Saying that Jakob Poeltl had an underwhelming 2025-26 season would be kind. Injuries slowed down the Toronto Raptors center, limiting his effectiveness and making that looming contract extension look all the more ugly.
There should be multiple avenues to explore in terms of getting off Poeltl's three-year, $84 million extension before it kicks in. One of the most intriguing could be a home-run swing on a title-boosting move that involves making a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves during the upcoming season.
Let's be clear: things would need to be going quite poorly for the Timberwolves to consider a seismic shakeup during the 2026-27 campaign. Should that come to pass, though, Rudy Gobert deserves to get eyed up with serious intrigue.
Envisioning Gobert with this version of the Raptors is a very inviting thought. The trade is certainly doable from a financial standpoint, too, even if it ultimately requires a multi-team deal from a fit and needs standpoint. There is a lot to like here.
The financial motivations of Raptors trading for Rudy Gobert
Starting with the selling point of dumping Poeltl's contract, the current Raptors center is locked up through the end of the 2029-30 season. Toronto could feasibly get off that deal one year earlier, given that the final season of his extension is just partially guaranteed. Even so, Jak will present a major financial hurdle to the franchise moving forward.
Gobert, by contrast, is owed $36.5 million in this upcoming season, and has a player option for $38 million in 2027-28. That makes him a much shorter-term commitment.
The added bonus of pushing for Gobert now would be the opportunity to escape an extra problem for the Raptors. To add his $36.5 million salary, the Raptors would need to explore including either Immanuel Quickley or RJ Barrett in this deal.
Looking to shake more long-term money with Quickley? You got it. Do not want to pay up for an extension with Barrett? No problem. Either way, pursuing Gobert would help solve another issue beyond just getting rid of Poeltl's contract.
The on-court upside of adding Rudy Gobert to the Raptors
Evaluating the on-court fit of Gobert comes with the hopes of the Kawhi Leonard trade going through. That move should be closer to getting finalized.
What could a team with Rudy in Toronto look like?
In the event of Barrett being the one on the move, the Raptors could field a starting lineup of Quickley, Leonard, Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Gobert. Optionally, the Raps could explore starting Ja'Kobe Walter over CMB for the extra spacing.
If it is Quickley being traded, Shead/a point guard acquired in the deal, Barrett, Leonard, Barnes, and Gobert would project as the first five.
The first major selling point is straightforward: the Raptors defense would be otherworldly in either instance. Barnes and Gobert are both top-five defenders in the NBA. The latter has proven capable of being an entire unit on his own throughout his career. Good luck scoring against that squad.
Gobert is also a mightily capable rebounder, averaging 11.7 throughout his time in the NBA. That is an area in which the Raptors struggled. Toronto was tied for 23rd in the 2025-26 regular season, posting only 42.1 rebounds per game.
The knock on Gobert through his career has typically been his limited offensive skill set. The Raptors will not really need much from him there with this version of the team, eliminating the biggest potential drawback of adding the four-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Minnesota will not be keen on giving up such a great player unless things are bad from the jump. If the big swing on LaMelo Ball does not work in their favor, with the Timberwolves struggling early and searching for trades by the deadline, the Raptors should absolutely poke around on Gobert.
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